Article

A Curb-and-Gutter Machine for the Tightest Corners

A Gomaco Commander IIIx three-track paver at work on a parking lot project, slipforming concrete curb and gutter with a Topcon 3D guidance system. Photo courtesy of Gomaco.

The three-track Commander III Xtreme concrete slipform paver now has the ability to slipform a 24-inch radius, making curb and gutter work for municipal parking lot projects much easier, according to manufacturer Gomaco.

Handles Tight Radii Curb Islands

The Commander III is a leading machine for high-volume curb and gutter projects, and the Gomaco Xtreme package “gives the Commander the capability to go into parking lots and pour the intricate and tight radii curb islands that are designed into so many of them,” said Kent Godbersen, Gomaco’s vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.

The Commander IIIx features extreme turning capabilities with rotary-sensored slew drives on each of the three tracks. Gomaco’s software engineers created the new extreme radius software bundle for the G+ control system that allows the operator to program the size of the radius into the controller.

“The new Xtreme steering adds enhanced mobility to the machine, so it can get in and around a parking lot project like never before,” Godbersen said.

G+ System Manages Track Angles and Speeds

As the Commander IIIx approaches the radius, with the values already dialed in, the operator can activate the radius program so the machine slipforms around the radius.

The G+ control system manages all aspects of traveling around the radius, including track angles and variable track speeds. When paving with stringline, the Commander IIIx uses the Gomaco three-sensor steer system for the tight radius.

The proper speed of each of the tracks is maintained by G+ with independent hydraulic circuits to each track, so each one is traveling at the necessary, varied speed to maintain the smooth radius. The Commander IIIx’s three tracks also make slipforming curb and gutter in tight clearance conditions easier. Their extreme turn capability combine with the Commander IIIx’s all-track steering and all-track positioning to create a superior intelligent paver, the company said.

The intelligent all-track positioning on the Commander IIIx includes a smart hydraulic cylinder on all three legs. Because of the smart cylinders, the G+ system knows the position of all three tracks. Intelligent offset is achievable with a smart hydraulic cylinder for telescoping the mold-mounting system. This provides the G+ system with the ability for repeatable mold offset. Moreover, the trimmerhead and mold have independent vertical adjustments for raising and lowering.

The Commander IIIx’s G+ control system easily interfaces with stringline or a 3D guidance system for tight-radius curb and gutter applications. The slipform paver is also available with Gomaco Remote Diagnostics (GRD) for machine troubleshooting, diagnostic reviews, software updates, and more.

Next-Gen Fleet

By Facundo Tassara
Booster Fuels brings the gas station to your vehicles for the same price as a gas station. Its team members will fill up vehicles overnight or at a requested time and bill weekly. This could be a solution for fleets with old, expensive fueling infrastructure.

Driving Notes

By Mike Antich
Crossovers, such as the Subaru Crosstrek, are shifting fleet buying preferences in vehicle types found on corporate selectors. Once considered an upgrade, crossovers are now found in fleets in representative ratios as the retail market.

Nobody Asked Me, But...

By Sherb Brown
The fleet management companies, the telematics providers, the upfitters, and the general service providers in our market can offer you some wonderful advice, but the only person who can really tie it all together is a fleet manager.